Carrying not one but two cameras on board, the DJI Air 3 has taken flight. Announced on June 25, 2023, the Air 3 picks up where the Air 2S left off, offering aerial photographers and videographers both a wide-angle camera as well as a 3x telephoto zoom.
Both cameras feature 48MP 1/1.3-inch type sensors and can deliver up to 4K/100fps video, with 4K HDR also possible at up to 60fps. The wide-angle lens is a 24mm equivalent with a f/1.7 aperture, while the zoom is a 70mm equivalent with a f/2.8 aperture.
The Air 3 headlines more features that have not been seen in this series before, starting with the ability to support 2.7K vertical video capture (9:16 aspect ratio) that’s perfect for sharing on social media. It’s also the first Air-series drone to get omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, so it should be able to stay out of trouble when aloft.
It gets a bigger battery that keeps it aloft longer – for up to 46 minutes at a time (up from the previous 31 minutes). This was tested by DJI in a windless environment, though, where breezes were a constant 28.8km/h. In real-world use, however, that number might be a little lower. Keeping that battery topped up is a new charging hub capable of housing three packs at the same time. It even gets an extended transmission range thanks to DJI’s latest O4 technology that’s capable of sending stable Full HD live feeds at 60fps over a distance of up to 20km.
All this in a compact body that weighs just 750g! In terms of dimensions, the Air 3 folds down to just 207 x 100.5 x 91.1 mm, making it quite easy to pack up for taking on your next trip.
The DJI Air 3 is available to buy directly from the brand in three variations:
- DJI Air 3 with the RC-N2 remote – $1,699
- DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo with the RC-N2 remote – $2,049 (includes two extra batteries and the charging hub)
- DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo with the RC 2 controller (featuring a 5.5-inch 1080p display) – $2,349
